Getting Straight1970

Garcia:
[in a beginner's English class] I didn't get that far in high school English. So... I was kind of shafted.

Harry Bailey:
What was that?

Garcia:
I... I was shafted.

Harry Bailey:
Very good, Garcia. Very good. First person of the verb "to be." "I was." That's very good, Garcia. Now, who can give me the "you" form of "to be" with the same sentence? Yes, you!

Student:
Well... you were shafted.

Student #2:
Yeah, when they gave you this course!

Harry Bailey:
You, can you give me the third person form?

Student #2:
She was shafted. [the class applauds]

Harry Bailey:
Very good. So, as you see, "I was shafted." "You were shafted." "She was shafted." We all get shafted the same.

Student:
We never learned from *that* type of sentence in high school!

Harry Bailey:
Well, what do high school teachers know about fancy shafting?